10 Items to Include in a Road Safety Audit Brief

As transport planning consultants that carry out road safety audits, we have noticed considerable differences in the way the road safety audit brief is written. I'm not saying that they are wrong, but it would be helpful if it was somewhat standardised in order to provide consistency and clarity within the instruction.

The audit brief is the responsibility of the Design Team Leader or Project Manager. The Design Team Leader can request a road safety audit (RSA) at any stage of a development scheme to the auditors. It is important that it is given to the audit team with enough time for the design team to incorporate any recommendations within the project and so keeping scheme on schedule.

The RSA brief may include:

1. A complete description of the section of highway to be audited
2. A detailed description of the scheme objectives
3. Comprehensive scheme drawings
4. Identified departures from the norm
5. Timetables of any traffic orders
6. All Exception Reports relating to the project
7. Details of existing traffic/pedestrian flows
8. Details of expected changes to traffic/pedestrian flow
9. Information of traffic signal designs for the scheme
10. Any other information relating to the scheme proposals

The audit team will prepare the report and record details of the actual scheme being audited. Included will be information on the documents and drawings that have been examined, names of the auditors and detailed notes of the actual site visit incorporating dates, times and traffic conditions. Of course the scale and complexity of any project changes from scheme to scheme, but it is vital that the audit brief covers all the safety issues especially as the audit has the potential of influencing future injury collisions. If the Design Team Leader decides that the road safety audit is not required then they should attach an explanotary note countersigned by the Chief Engineer outlining the reason why the audit was not needed.

Each identified safety problem should be recorded as follows:

1. The identified problem and its location
2. Identification of the type of road user at risk eg. pedestrian, cyclist, etc...
3. A comprehensive description of the actual problem(s)
4. A quantifiable level of concern of risk
5. Recommendations that will mitigate the problem
6. Each safety problem should be referenced separately

The completed audit report would normally be given to the project manager for consideration, who would then instruct the Design Team of any changes to the scheme as a result of the Safety Audit.

Modal Group Ltd are transport planning consultants based in Kendal, Cumbria and work with local authorities, property developers and architects throughout the UK. As well as the traffic planning work, Modal Group also carry out road safety audits and traffic surveys.